The couple led Rose and Kate through to the small kitchen at the rear, where a Formica table groaned with sandwiches, biscuits and juices. At the end of the table, Maja sat with her back to the light, her gaze firmly on the floor beneath her feet. ‘Maja,’ Zara said, ‘this is Rose and Kate, the ladies who helped you.’

Maja barely lifted her gaze. ‘Maja!’ Zara admonished, but Kate raised her hand. She took a seat at one side of the table and Rose the other.

Maja was pretty, with her sister’s blonde hair and vivid blue eyes. She was still every inch the child and Kate found herself thinking of the video of the prime minister cavorting with three young teenage girls in Kosovo. Why had she been so quick in recent days to accept that really was a fake? She reminded herself not to allow her investigation to be limited by a failure of her own imagination.

‘Please help yourself,’ Zara said. But neither she nor Alexander joined them at the table. ‘Perhaps you could just give us a minute,’ Kate asked them.

She waited until they had left the room and pulled the door quietly shut. ‘Hello, Maja. My name is Kate and this is Rose. Do you know who we are?’

Maja gave them a barely perceptible nod. Kate took a plate and filled it with sandwiches. Rose did the same and they offered the groaning platter to Maja who tentatively followed suit.

None of them ate.

Kate tried to catch the girl’s eye. ‘Maja, your sister worked for us. She did so to help you. We tried everything in our power to keep her safe, but we couldn’t save her. We couldn’t be sorrier about that. But you should know that she took the risk to ensure you would have a better life, and we’ll keep the promises we made to her now and in the future.’

Maja brushed her stick-thin legs against the chair, like a child half her age. She still hadn’t raised her gaze.

‘We’ve found you a good school. When the time comes, if you wish, we’ll make sure you’re offered financial help to go to university. We’ll do our best to help you into employment. Alexander and Zara will take care of you, but we’ll always be in the background, ready to offer any assistance you might need.’ Kate took a business card from her pocket and pushed it towards Maja. ‘This is my mobile phone number. Call it at any time and I’ll do my level best to help.’ Kate glanced at Rose, who nodded in encouragement. ‘We recognize that this is never going to bring your sister back and I can’t tell you how desperately sorry we are about that. She was a brave young woman and she risked her life to give you a better future. I hope we can persuade you to grasp it with both hands.’

The room was silent, but for the sound of Maja’s trainers scuffing against the chair legs.